Automatic threading apparatus on a sewing machine

A threading apparatus for a sewing machine having a needle bar, a needle attached to one end of the needle bar, a sewing transmission for moving the needle bar, and a presser foot for pressing a cloth to hold the cloth steady when the needle is sewing the cloth, the threading apparatus comprising:

• a threading rod mounted in parallel to the needle bar such that the threading rod is movable along and rotatable about an axis of the threading rod;
• threading means attached to a first end of the threading rod for extending a threading hook when the threading rod rotates about the threading rod axis;
• actuating means mounted on a second end of the threading rod for rotating the threading rod about the threading rod axis when the threading rod is in a threading position adjacent to the needle;
• drive means for moving a drive board relative to the needle bar towards the threading position, wherein the drive board contacts the actuating means to move the actuating means and threading rod towards the threading position;
• stop means mounted on the needle bar for stopping the threading rod when the threading rod is in the threading position;
• detection means for detecting a position of the presser foot;
• and
• prohibiting means for prohibiting the drive means from lowering the threading rod when the detection means detects that the presser foot is in a position for pressing cloth.

A sewing machine having a threading apparatus comprising:

• a reciprocable needle having an eye for sewing a cloth;
• a presser foot movable between a first position and a second position, said presser foot being separated from the cloth when the presser foot is at the first position and the presser foot presses the cloth so as to hold the cloth steady when the presser foot is at the second position;
• a threading rod supported by the sewing machine such that the threading rod is movable along and rotatable about an axis of the threading rod;
• threading means attached to one end of the threading rod, the threading means extending a threading hook into the eye of the needle when the threading rod is moved along the axis of the threading rod and rotated about the axis of the threading rod;
• detection means for detecting a position of the presser foot;
• and
• prohibiting means for prohibiting the threading rod from moving along the axis of the threading rod when the detection means detects that the presser foot is at the second position.